Château des Clées

Les Clées, Switzerland, Switzerland

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Château des Clées is a medieval castle perched on a steep hill above the village of Les Clées in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, built around 1150 to guard the vital bridge over the Orbe River gorge and collect tolls on the ancient Jougne Pass trade route.

First mentioned in 1134 amid disputes over its reconstruction, it thrived under Savoyard control from 1260, supporting a prosperous town with inns, warehouses, and freedoms until Swiss Confederation forces destroyed it in 1475 during the Burgundian Wars.

Restored in the 19th century by Sir Walter Halliday as a romantic summer residence and later modernized, the site recognized as a Swiss heritage site of national significance, now stands as a testament to centuries of pilgrimage, trade, and history.